The older woman smiled and said, “I am glad you liked them. I will give you a bowl for free next time you visit!”
“Thank you, da niang!” Cheng Xiao Xiao must sighed that even those from the old times knew were well versed at doing business.
After breakfast, Cheng Xiao Xiao finally started heading toward her original destination.
Since she was looking for helpers, she decided to go toward the slum. It would lighten their burdens and she could find cheap labor. It’s a win-win situation, so why the heck not?
“Daddy, please don’t sell me. I can take good care of little brother.”
Before she even entered the slum, she saw a young girl around 13-14 year old bawling her eyes out while holding onto the leg of an middle-aged man.
Not only did the middle-aged man not shown any signs of compassion, but he looked even more irritated, as though the girl should not have clung onto him like that.
“Damn girl, let me go. Or else I will show you!” The middle-aged man stared at the young girl viciously, like he was about to beat her.
“Daddy, please don’t sell me, please. I will be good. I can take good care of little brother.” The young girl continued to cry. Her muddy face was now covered in tears, making her looked like a calico cat and somewhat funny looking.
But Cheng Xiao Xiao didn’t laugh. For some reason, the scene made she felt bad.
He wanted to sell his daughter just because life was a little bit difficult. He failed as a father.
They didn’t use to have enough food for the whole family either, but the entire family joined together and finally made it through.
Even though the middle-aged man was dressed in rags, but if only he was willing to try, he should be able to find some work. He didn’t need to sell his daughter. Someone like that made her heart sank.
“Shut up, you cheap thing. Who else should we sell, huh? You can’t pass on the family name, but it takes food to feed you. What good are you?” He yelled at the little girl, the vicious look on his face made the young girl shuddered.
“Please don’t beat me daddy, please!” Kneeling on the ground, the young girl clinging onto the middle-aged man’s pants and crying into a ball of tears. Her pitiful look made Cheng Xiao Xiao felt both bad and angry.
Isn't it in nature to care for your own children?
So why was it that this man could be so cruel to his own daughter?
“Cheap thing, who else am I going to beat? Hmmm? Wasting all the food at home, you can at least let me take it out on you!” As he was saying that, he kicked her two more times.
Everybody around them just looked as thought this was the norm.
At places like this, the poor had always been selling their sons and daughters. Everybody had long been desensitized. Other than just watching the scenes unfold, they have no idea what more they could do.
“That’s enough! How could you just beat someone like that? Let alone your own child. This is too much!” Finally Cheng Xiao Xiao couldn’t stood by anymore. She scolded the rough man with her clear eyes looking straight at him.
“I am teaching my own daughter a lesson. Who do you think you are? Get out of my way!” After hearing her words, the middle-aged man raised his eyebrows and rolled his eyes. He would like to beat this random girl that came out of nowhere too.
Didn’t you have anything better to do than to muddle in my business?
“You are garbage! No matter what, she is still your daughter. How could you treat her like that?” Cheng Xiao Xiao had never experienced anything like this before. Granted, she had heard about child abuses in the news on TV before, but had never witnessed it in person, so she never was too emotional about them.
But now this was unfolding in front of her own eyes. This made her felt both inconceivable and enraging. How could a father do that to his own child? Even tigers don’t eat their own younglings!
“Get out of my way, you little tramp. I can do whatever I want, what’s it to you?” Shoving Cheng Xiao Xiao to her side, the middle-aged man looked even more vicious than before.
“Second Old Liu, did you bring the girl? My master is still waiting for me. Let’s hurry up with the trade.” Suddenly came another voice. Cheng Xiao Xiao turned and look, the man was clothed in pure cotton outfit with a energetic look. He looked like he could be the butler of some wealthy family.
Cheng Xiao Xiao raised her brows. Looking at the events in front of her quietly, she knew what was going on.
The middle-aged man had already made a deal, he brought his daughter here specifically for that purpose.
“Oh, Second Old Liu, your girl is quite limpid. Kind of pretty too if you look closely. Trust me, if the master is fond of her, she will have a bright future. If I have a daughter that pretty, I will send her straight to serve the master. You are a lucky one,” said the man with a smile. Even though his words suggested that he was talking up to him, but the way he looked at him was full of contempt!
Cheng Xiao Xiao continued to watch on quietly. She was speechless.
Okay, so he was praising that Second Old Liu, whatever. But why was he staring at her nonstop?
What did it all have to do with her?
“What are you talking about? How is she pretty? Maybe she wasn’t ugly, but I definitely won’t call her pretty. Serving your master? She’s good enough?” He snorted coldly and stared at the girl on the ground with disgust.
“What… this is your daughter!” The man finally saw the girl on the ground following the line of sight of Second Old Liu. He couldn’t help but laughed dryly and asked.
“Who else could she be?” Second Old Liu stared at the girl again and asked rudely.
Ugh…
Okay, so he was wrong about her. He felt a bit embarrassed and looked at her again. What a pity, it wasn’t her.
The girl standing next to Second Old Liu was much more limpid, and very spiritual and elegant. As for the one on the ground? Aye, such a big difference between the two.
“Second Old Liu, the master is looking for someone with quick-wit. You think she can cut it? It’s no joke if she say the wrong things and anger the master!” said the man suggestively as he patted Second Old Liu on his shoulder.
“Well… this….” Second Old Liu didn’t know what to say. The man was suggesting that he didn’t want to buy the girl anymore!
Then how was he going to make money? How was he going to feed and clothe the family?
“Second Old Liu, I have other business to tend to. We will catch up later!” The man turned and left after that.
He wouldn’t dare to take the girl on the ground, without even looking at her face.
Especially after comparing her with the other girl, there was no way he was going to take her.
“You cheap thing! I couldn’t even sell you! What good are you then? I am going to beat you to death!” After a while, the middle-aged man picked up a wooden rod from the ground and started beating the girl with it. He struck her so hard that even those nearby could hear the sound it made when it hit her body.